Media Contact
U.S. Venture Open Fundraising Totals $4,642,058
30-Sep-2020
Media Contact
Media-thon secures additional donations to end poverty
(APPLETON, WIS.) September 30, 2020: The 35th annual U.S. Venture Open has raised $4,642,058 to end poverty in Northeast Wisconsin. Unlike the traditional format of prior years, there has been a continued influx of donations beyond the date of the event on August 12. The U.S. Venture Open is proud to have raised more than $51 million throughout its history.
“Thank you to all our partners and donors who have continued and, in many cases, increased their support along with hundreds of new donors. We are amazed by this level of support for those in our community who need it the most, especially during these uncertain times,” said Greg Vandenberg, director of giving and community engagement for U.S. Venture.
Along with this $4.6 million raised at this year’s event and the $5 million of additional available funds announced in June, more than $10 million is now available to nonprofits to end poverty in the region. In order to more effectively respond to the needs of nonprofit partners, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership grantmaking process has been redesigned to maximize flexibility.
The new process allows grantee partners to take risks and address both urgent needs and long-term systems change. Because the pandemic has resulted in increased demand for services while revenue streams for nonprofits are decreasing, a portion of the available funding will provide general operating support or targeted technical assistance to strengthen nonprofits’ infrastructure and leadership capacity.
To submit grant requests, refer to the respective Community Foundation websites below:
- Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region:
cffoxvalley.org/grants/basic-needs-giving-partnership/ - Greater Green Bay Community Foundation:
ggbcf.org/BasicNeedsGiving - Oshkosh Area Community Foundation:
oshkoshareacf.org/bngp/
Much like how local nonprofits must pivot and innovate to provide their services, the 35th annual U.S. Venture Open looked very different this year – with no golfing or celebration dinner at Van Abel’s of Hollandtown. This year, in partnership with WBAY-TV & Woodward Radio Group, the event went to the airwaves with a focus to educate, activate and inspire individuals to give.
Matching grants from regional partners are key to sustaining the work of the funding behind the U.S. Venture Open, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership. The J. J. Keller Foundation established a legacy of offering matching funds for grant making. Their $800,000 grant-making investment has been joined by other lead grant partners, including Oshkosh Corporation at $250,000, ThedaCare at $200,000, the Rhoades Foundation at $200,000 and the Thrivent Foundation at $200,000. With U.S. Venture’s added $800,000 donation, the grant matching increased to $2.45 million, effectively matching every dollar donated through the U.S. Venture Open in 2020.
The strategies of this charitable effort support long-term solutions to move people out of poverty in four key areas of education, economic sustainability, physical and mental wellness, and social connectedness.
About U.S. Venture Open
The U.S. Venture Open is the nation’s single largest one-day charitable event dedicated to ending poverty. Funds from the event support the Basic Needs Giving Partnership with a vision to build thriving, equitable communities across Northeast Wisconsin through regional collaborative grants and advocacy. The U.S. Venture Open started in 1986 with 100 golfers and has grown to 1,200 attendees representing more than 700 partners who golf at regional courses to raise money for programs that help end poverty. Follow the event on Facebook, Twitter, or visit the U.S. Venture Open website.
About the Basic Needs Giving Partnership
The Basic Needs Giving Partnership envisions thriving, equitable communities across Northeast Wisconsin. We invest in local and regional solutions that address the root causes of poverty in alignment with our shared values of trust and collaboration, curiosity and learning, and equity with a systems-based approach. The funds raised through the U.S. Venture Open from generous corporations, family foundations, and individuals are granted to support nonprofits providing critical services as well as organizations working to change the systems that hold poverty in place. For more information about the Basic Needs Giving Partnership, please visit our website, bngpwi.org.